Dean Christon steps up as Granite United Way Board Chairman

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Patrick Tufts, President and CEO, Granite United Way Dean Christon, Executive Director New Hampshire Housing Finance Authority and new Board Chair for Granite United Way Board of Directors and K. Mark Primeau, President and CEO of Bank of New Hampshire, Immediate Past Chair for Granite United Way.
From left: Patrick Tufts, President and CEO, Granite United Way, Dean Christon, Executive Director New Hampshire Housing Finance Authority and new Board Chair for Granite United Way Board of Directors and K. Mark Primeau, President and CEO of Bank of New Hampshire, Immediate Past Chair for Granite United Way.

MANCHESTER, NH — Granite United Way is pleased to announce that Dean J. Christon, Executive Director of New Hampshire Housing Finance Authority, has graciously stepped into the position of Board Chair. This January, K. Mark Primeau, President and CEO of Bank of New Hampshire, proudly passed the torch to Christon after his service since 2014.

“This is an exciting time to be part of Granite United Way and I am honored to be leading such a dedicated Board of Directors,” said Dean Christon. “The volunteers and staff that comprise Granite United Way are truly invested in our community. I look forward to working with them to bring even greater impact to each of the organization’s six regions in addition to building stronger relationships with the more than 20,000 donors that give annually.”

Christon was appointed Executive Director of New Hampshire Housing Finance Authority in July 2007. He has been with the Authority for more than 25 years, having served as Deputy Executive Director/Chief Operating Officer and Assistant Executive Director. Prior to joining New Hampshire Housing, Christon was Staff Director for the Joint Committee on Review of Agencies and Programs for the New Hampshire General Court.

Christon holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science from Saint Anselm College in Manchester and a Master of Public Administration degree from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst.

He serves as a member of New Hampshire Council on Resources and Development, Community Development Block Grant Advisory Committee, Interagency Council on Homelessness and the Economic Development Advisory Council. Christon serves on the Board of Directors of the National Council of State Housing Agencies. He is past Chairman of the City of Manchester’s Enterprise Community Advisory Board. He has also served on the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston Community Development Advisory Council, the Fannie Mae Northern New England Advisory Board, the New Hampshire State Government Operations Task Force, the New Hampshire Charitable Fund’s Building Communities Program Advisory Committee, the City of Manchester Housing Council, and the Community Development Advisory Council of the Federal Home Loan Bank of Boston.

Christon has played a key role in the development and implementation of Granite United Way’s Strategic Plan. He plans to continue to align the organization’s goals and actions with the plan.

“We are fortunate to have Dean leading our Board of Directors this year. He has done an outstanding job as Community Impact Committee Chair in our Southern Region, Board Member and member of the Executive Committee, and I’m confident he will continue this work as he accepts his new role of Board Chair,” said Patrick Tufts, President and CEO of Granite United Way. “Dean has been a strong supporter of United Way, a Loyal Contributor for the past 36 years, and a volunteer for Day of Caring. Dean will continue to guide our organization through the changes that will ensure donor dollars have the greatest return possible.”

Christon is a resident of Manchester.

Primeau continues on the Board of Directors as Immediate Past Chair.  First Vice Chair is Nannu Nobis, President of Nobis Engineering, who will assume the role of Chair in 2017. Second Vice Chair is Sean Owen, owner of wedu and Talient Action Group, who will become Chair in 2018.

For more information on Granite United Way visit www.graniteuw.org.


Granite United Way is an experienced and trusted organization dedicated to leveraging the resources of investors and volunteers to create lasting change by addressing the underlying causes of our community’s most pressing needs.  Granite United Way is committed to improving the lives of individuals and families by supporting programs in the areas of education, income and health.  Granite United Way works with over 1,000 companies, 25,000 investors and thousands of volunteers every year to make our communities a better place. Granite United Way is highly rated by both GuideStar and Charity Navigator, the two most prestigious nonprofit analysis organizations in the country. Granite United Way serves the Southern (Manchester/Derry/Salem), Merrimack County, North Country, Central NH, Northern and Upper Valley Regions of NH and VT as well as Windsor County, VT.  For more information, visit www.graniteuw.org.


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About this Author

Carol Robidoux

PublisherManchester Ink Link

Longtime NH journalist and publisher of ManchesterInkLink.com. Loves R&B, German beer, and the Queen City!